Chapter 11: Stayin' Alive

Disclaime: S. Meyer owns Twilight

JPOV:

Bouncing out of bed, I hurried through my shower and shave. I made breakfast for everyone, ate, and drove to Maria's. Excited, much?

I'm glad I sped up my morning routine 'cuz I met Bella exiting the apartment on the way to her car. "Where you off to?"

I know I shouldn't have felt hurt, but I had to see her, and here she was going somewhere without me. It was selfish of me, but the time we had together was limited. We'd be separated before long, dammit. Our Kodak moments needed to be crammed in as much as possible, which reminded me ... pictures, I needed pictures. Note to self—bring camera next time.

Thank god, she was only going to the grocery store. All riiiight! I could help. I would just tootle on down to the Thriftway with my life's two most important people in tow. Also, with the both of us shopping it would cut the trip in half. A win-win situation ... yeah.

I couldn't imagine how she managed to tote her baby and that heavy car seat having such a small frame on her. I took Michel and the seat from my sweetheart and set it all up, plunking the little guy inside of it. Thriftway, here we come.

Bella tore the grocery list in half so we could each shop at separate parts of the store. I took Michel with me, for some male-bonding time. It was difficult for him to see past me, my being such a big guy and all, so I removed him from the cart and balanced him on my shoulders. He had a good grip on my hair, plus I made a couple of manacles out of my hands, holding onto those tiny arms of his. I would let go of one for a second or two, only to place an item in the cart.

There was some piped in music playing, and instinctively, my body began to move to the beat. Music was high up on my list of pleasures, and I loved to dance. I didn't care where I was, or who saw me—it was too hard to keep happy feet still. So, we gyrated along, as the groceries filled the basket. Hooh boy, then Stayin' Alive started up, and I was sruttin' my stuff. Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

I would challenge anyone to remain motionless while that thing was playing. So there I was really gettin'down. You know it's all right, it's okay, I'll live to see another day. I had just executed a perfect 360 degree turn, when Bella caught me in the act. Uh-oh. She didn't seem very amused at first, or else she was an expert at hiding her emotions. But then I noted a teeny little smile trying to emerge. I was definitely getting to her.

"Hi, Mommy," I uttered.

Her list was apparently complete already. I hunkered down so Michel could safely slip off my shoulders, and handed him to Bella. She traipsed off to the register, while I tossed the last bag of beans in my cart, all the while singing the final chorus. Stayin' aliiive, ah, ah ive, ah ah, iiiive, ah, ah, ive!

When we got to the cashier, Bella opened her purse. Now wait a minute! I was not gonna let her pay for these groceries. After all, I was the one that ate most of them recently. I got in front of her. "What do you think you're doin'?"

She laid out some cash on the counter. "What does it look like I'm doing? This stuff isn't free you know."

I pushed the cash back toward her. "Well, I can't let you pay. You're my guest, and I get to pay for them."

She shoved the bills in the opposite direction. "Well, I won't let you do that."

I shoved them toward her again. "Yes, you will. Please let me do this."

"Jake ... I—"

I picked up the money, and set it aside. With my wallet open, I handed the cashier my credit card. "I got this. Your money is no good here, Bells, so save your breath. I don't want to hear another word about it."

Bella, sputtered and huffed, her face turning red. Like I said, Cute as a button!

Gathering up the currency, I put out my palm. With the bills rolled in my hand, I offered, "Here, these need to go back in your purse."

"I don't know what to say."

Jeez, talk about stubborn ... "How 'bout, thank you."

Those big doe eyes looked right through me as she said, "Thank you."

Finally ... "You're welcome."

I made short work of placing all the goods in the car, and when we arrived at the apartment, I helped to put everything away, in between incessant nuzzling and smooching.

Bella put together some sandwiches for lunch, then it was naptime for Michel. While we washed up some dishes, I asked, "My song and dance routine didn't embarrass you, did it?"

She handed me a glass to dry. "No ... I just couldn't believe a guy like you could make a fool of himself, and actually enjoy it."

Wiping the last drops of water from the glass, I placed it on the counter, and faced her. "I did enjoy it. Tell me something, Bells. Don't you ever wanna let loose and just be yourself? What are you scared of? So what if you look foolish. Sometimes acting that way is the only sensible thing to do. If I hadn't acted like a fool that day in the Bx, I would've never met you."

With all the dishes washed, she dried her hands. Her face suddenly took on a serious expression. "Then I'm glad you did."

Jeez, I reached out, and touching her shoulders, pulled her toward me. And hooh boy, she about melted in my arms. We held each other for several minutes, until I kissed Bella's cheek and whined, "The dishwater's gettin' cold."

As previously announced, I took Michel and Bella to see the sights. We went to Uncle Omni's ranch to pet—and ride—the horses, and sneak a peek at Diablo, his big, mean, nasty bull. Then it was on to my favorite fishing hole, Cripple Creek, and lastly to the famous, La Push cliffs where the bravest—or dumbest of us—risked life and limb for a few measly nanoseconds of adrenaline.

Stunned, she remarked, "You're serious?"

"Yeah, it's a total rush. You gotta try it. I'll havta take you with me the next time I'm on leave again—in three months."

"In your dreams!" she quipped.

"C'mon, Bells, you only live once."

"You only die once too. No thanks."

After the dinner dishes were all washed and put away, I asked Maria and Bella if they wanted to go dancing. They had a band playing every Tuesday at The Paint Pony.

"Thanks, but some people have to work tomorrow. Take Bella, I'll watch Michel; he'll be asleep anyway."

Bella, as usual, balked at the idea. "Maria ... I don't want you to feel that you have to babysit."

"Hey, it was my idea to get you two together. It's the least I can do. When I get married and have a slew of kids, you can return the favor."

BPOV:

Mortified, that's what I was. He was paying for my groceries, saying I was his guest. It made me very uncomfortable, even though it was a bighearted gesture on his part. I would feel like I owed him something, and I didn't want to owe him anything at all.

I finally let it go. Maybe it was a macho thing. Anyway, while we were doing the lunch dishes, he asked if he embarrassed me when he was bopping to Stayin' Alive. I didn't really mind, it was good to see him acting kind of goofy. In the back of my mind though, I thought about the words to that song. Would he live to see another day when he returned to Iraq ... would he stay alive? The idea terrified me.

We talked about letting ourselves go and doing foolish things. I had always been a pretty reserved person. The fact that I was even here in La Push, was astounding. I'd never done anything like it before. He pointed out, that meeting me was the result of his taking a foolish risk, and I was so glad that he did.

Something inside me was deeply touched at those words. When he took me in his arms, my very bones seemed to soften, as we melded together. And, my gosh, it felt so right. Now, if I could just feel this way all the time.

Jacob took Michel and me to see the horses at the ranch owned by Quil's uncle, Omni. He let us ride on one of them. The horse's name was Big Shot, and I was amazed how Jacob mounted it bareback so easily. I sat my son on his lap while he was astride the animal. It was fun watching the expression on my little one's face. He was enjoying a real horsie ride this time.

Omni took Michel from Jacob, and held his hand while my guy reached down, and one-handed, pulled me up to sit behind him.

I heard Jacob chuckle, as he felt me hanging onto him for dear life.

Looking back over his shoulder, he teased, "Don't tell me ... you've never been on a horse before? An Arizona girl like you? Jeez, Bells, didn't you ever have any fun growing up?"

"Hey, mister. I had lots of fun, playing with paper dolls, tea sets and board games."

"I stand corrected. Adventure is your middle name."

I slapped him playfully. "It is now."

He grabbed at the place where I hit him. "Ow, oh god, you just opened up an old shrapnel wound."

"Noooo ... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

He laughed so hard, I thought he was going fall off the horse. "I'm just kiddin'. Hooh boy, you are so gullible. I like that in a girl."

I slapped him again for good measure. "You!"

"Ow, that time it did hurt. I'll have a big bruise by tomorrow."

"Serves you right," I muttered.

We rode slowly in the yard near the stable, and made the circle three times. Then, Jacob pulled on the reins to stop the horse. He jumped off Big Shot, and carefully helped me down to the ground. Next, he lifted Michel up, and let him pet the horse's velvet muzzle. We thanked Omni and went to see Diablo, his huge Bull.

I'd never seen anything like it. The bull was humongous, and he had a plank stretched over his eyes. It was attached to his horns by two loops of thick rope. "Why is that board lying across his eyes?"

Jacob puffed out his cheeks, blowing it out in a white mist into the cold air. "Well, he wasn't named Diablo for nothin'. Omni keeps his eyes covered so he won't charge at you. He's one vicious sunuvagun. He reminds me of another vicious Bull—Bull Metcalf. He's this guy back in the service. He's had his fist in my face more times than I can count. I'm lucky my nose hasn't been broken yet."

"That's awful." I pressed my palm to his cheek. "I like your face the way it is. Promise me you'll stay away from him."

"You got it, honey."

I leaned on the corral rail, looking at Diablo. "Gosh, they're both so mean. I wonder though, maybe Diablo is lonesome. Maybe he needs some female companionship. I'll bet that would calm him down, and make him more content."

Capturing my hand, Jacob kissed my knuckles. "There's a thought. If Metcalf had a girl like you, then maybe his mean streak would go away too. Man, that'd be great. My face would welcome a vacation from bruising for a while."

Michel started squirming in Jacob's arms so we decided to leave the bull pen and go to our other stops along the tour route.

"Dancing?"

"Yeah, you know ... That's where a guy holds a girl close and they sway to the music."

"Yes, I do know, but holy cow, I haven't been dancing since one night right after Michel was born."

"Then it's about time you did."

He asked Maria to go too—I'm sure just to be polite—but she obviously had to work the next day, so she declined. She did however volunteer to watch Michel during the night. What a gem. How'd I get lucky enough to have such a good friend?

Jacob stopped on the way to the dance hall to pick up his camera, and had his dad take the very first picture. I'm sure we were both beaming.

I was surprised that The Paint Pony wasn't crowded, but I guess getting close to Christmas, people were probably preparing for the holidays. I hadn't given it much thought. My presents for my mom, dad and Michel were already under the tree at home. I now needed to get a gift for Jacob, but somehow I knew he wouldn't care if I gave him nothing but my love. I'd talk to Maria about shopping for something later.

The room, although sparsely populated was shrouded in a thick fog of acrid cigarette smoke. Neither Jacob nor I smoked, so it was hard to get used to. My eyes burned, but luckily there was a heated patio outside, so we could get away from it. The band was loud enough that it probably could be heard from a mile away, so we could easily hear the music.

Jacob went to get us a couple of cokes, and returned to our table, setting them on the surface.

It seemed so odd to see a guy in a bar who didn't have a beer in his hand.

"You don't drink either?" I asked.

"Nope, never touch the stuff. Besides the council frowns on it—hooh boy, do they ever."

"I don't believe it. Nobody can be that perfect. You've gotta have some vices."

"Sure, sure I do."

Taking a sip of my coke, I cocked one eyebrow, and said, "Okay then, enlighten me. I want to hear it."

Jacob looked down at his drink, swirling the ice cubes in the glass with the straw.

For starters, I talk too much, and sometimes I tend to smart off. I'm impulsive—I'm not talking about the silly, foolish stuff. I'm talking about rushing in where the angels fear to tread, ignoring my own safety. I never miss a meal when I'm home, I just get so hungry. It's a different story when I'm flying. While I'm in the air, I'm too worried about gettin' my tail shot to pieces to think about it.

"I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, which is what got me in trouble with you at first. And I'm honest to a fault. There are probably a lot of others, but I came her to dance with you, not bore you to death."

"I'm never bored when I'm with you. And those last few vices you talked about? They're not vices, they're endearing charms."

"But you haven't heard the worst one ... I have naughty thoughts about you, Bells. All the time—day and night. I can't help it; I want you so bad. Sometimes it kills me just to look at you. I feel like I'm gonna burn up alive." He looked up at me with pleading in his eyes. "Do you still love me? Please say yes."

He looked so pitiful. "I guess I can make an exception for you."

My hand was enclosed in his within a millisecond. "May I have this dance, Miss Swan?"

"It would be my pleasure, Lieutenant Black."

He swept me onto the dance floor, and all at once I was back at encampment in the arms of a brash young cadet.